Today was perhaps my favorite day so far in Japan. We started off the day by catching a train and then a bus to Jigokudani, a monkey park in Kanbayashi near Nagano. The walk from the bus station was a beautiful, snow-lined walk through the Alps. It was so beautiful in fact that I didn't mind the hole in my boot and we also had wonderful company - we met an interesting young German physical chemist who's currently doing his post doc at a lab in Tokyo. When we reached the top I was amazed and excited: hundreds of monkeys right there, walking, bathing, playing, fighting, chillin' amongst all the people. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen: these grey-white monkeys with bright red faces in the snowy surroundings and relaxing in the misty hot springs.
We made it back down the mountain and rode a bus to the onsen, or Japanese hot springs, in Yudanaka. After the snowy trek, it was wonderful to relax in the hot springs. There was an indoor and outdoor communal pool and one of my favorite moments was sitting outside in the misty hot stone pool completely naked with snow falling from above! Amazing the contrast between the relaxing steam of the onsen and the sharp mountain air. We've arrived back at the hostel now and are enjoying the company of our fellow hostel mates. One girl is WWOOFing (travelling and working for no pay but in exchange for room and board) and she is Japanese-British and works as a hula dancer when she's back in Britain. In a couple hours we'll catch a night bus to Tokyo!
We made it back down the mountain and rode a bus to the onsen, or Japanese hot springs, in Yudanaka. After the snowy trek, it was wonderful to relax in the hot springs. There was an indoor and outdoor communal pool and one of my favorite moments was sitting outside in the misty hot stone pool completely naked with snow falling from above! Amazing the contrast between the relaxing steam of the onsen and the sharp mountain air. We've arrived back at the hostel now and are enjoying the company of our fellow hostel mates. One girl is WWOOFing (travelling and working for no pay but in exchange for room and board) and she is Japanese-British and works as a hula dancer when she's back in Britain. In a couple hours we'll catch a night bus to Tokyo!
Our wonderful view on the train ride.
Trail up to the monkey farm.
"for human being" ... "for monkey"
So picturesque.
It's cold out here!
Oh, what a lovely waterfall.
A little baby monkey in the corner of the onsen with mama close by.
Reaching down for a little drink.
My new monkey friend was ignoring me.
No comments:
Post a Comment